Accordions



Aug. 13,1963 A. DE JOHN 3,100,417

ACCORDIONS Filed June 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ANTHONY DE JOHNATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1963 A. DE JOHN 3,100,417

ACCORDIONS Filed June 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR. ANTHONY DE JOHN ATTORNEY 3,100,417 ACCORDIONS AnthonyDeJohn,1314s. 13th so, Philadelphia 47, Pa.

June 6,1961, Ser- No. 115,121

Filed l 'Claims.' (Cl. 84--376) invention relates tokaccordions and moreparticuan to an improved operating-connection between the SJtMi? FIG.Z'is a rear 'elevational viewsimilar to FIG. 1,

showing the heads in closely spaced condition;

,FIG. 3 is a top plan viewof the accordion with the heads in theposition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4'is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately onthe line 4- 4'of FIG. 1; 5

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately onthe .line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

reedcarrying heads of the. accordion and supplemental to the bellows. ii

In the use .offaccordiotns, considerable difficulty arises because ofthe tendency for one headof the accordion, and usually the headin whichthe bass reeds are carried, to drop because of its weight.

-It is theprincipal objectof the present invention to provide animproved interconnection betweenfthe heads of an accordion andrearwardly disposed with respect to the bellows so as to avoid undesiredinterference with the bellows.

It is a further object of the present inventionto' provide aninterconnection between the heads of an accordion having integralbrackets which can be quickly and easily attached to accordions now inuse, and by which the action of the accordion and the control thereofwill be improved.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aninterconnectionbetween the heads of an accordion having integral endbrackets eachof such can be readily attachedto one of the heads,anexpansible parallelmotion connector therebetween ,andreadilyfinsertable' rods. for

securing the connectoriat its ends to the endbracket.

It is a further object .ocfthe :present invention to provide aninterconnection between. the heads of an accordion which is simple inconstruction, reliable inits action, which will beief fectivel formaintaining theheads of the accordion for controlled movement withrespect to each other and which will prevent excessive separation of theheads in 1*;- 11' {It-1s a iurther object of the present invention toprovide an interconnection between the heads of an accordion foreffecting a parallel motion actuation of the heads in use whilepermitting vertical swinging of the heads, and

which is adapted for; use with various sizes and models of a i r id lmwi q.

vQIt is a iurthi 1- object of the present invention to provide aninterconnection between the heads; of an accordion which isfreelymovablelsoiasnot to inter fere with the free movement of the headsof the accordion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedinterconnection between the heads of an accordion which will. supportthe accordion with the bellows; in spaced relation to thebody of theplayer and which is free from any tendency tocatehpon orgrip'thebellows, or thecushioningpad which is frequently interposedbetween oneof the'heads and the body of the player, or the clothing of'the player.r i

iIt is la. {further object of the present invention to provide a simpleform of interconnection between the heads of; an

accordion for maintaining a controlled relative movement thereof andwhich can be easily mounted in position by relativelyinexperiencedpersons. Y

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims;

..The nature and characteristiefeatures of the invention I will be morereadily understood from the following de- FIG. 6 is a iragmentarysectional view taken approximately on theline 6 6.of FIG. 5.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein .are illustrative merely, and that variousmodifi-cations andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. V

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

with an interconnecting bellows 12 therebetween.

trols carried therein. The head 10 has a rear wall 14 and the head 11has a rear wall 15.

A nrain bracket 20 is provided having a vertically extending bracketplate portion 21 and integral upper and lower mounting arms- 22 and 23shaped as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5, to spacethe bracketplate portion 21 from the rear wall 14 of the head 10 and at an anglewith respect thereto. The arms 21 land 22 are 30 preferably has ahead 31with a knurled portion 32 secured. to the head 10 by a plurality ofscrews 24 at spaced locations and extending therethrough into the Wall14."

The bracket 20 has extending horizontally from the,

bracket plate portion 2 1, a pair of integral relatively closely spaced;lugs 26 and 27, an intermediate integral".

lug 28' land alowe'r integral lug 29 for the reception of a verticalmetallic support rod 30. The support rod for manual gripping if and whendesired, and base nut 33 ion thethreade'd lower end portion 34 thereof(see FIG. 6). The nut 33 is also knurled as at 35 for facility oi-application.

a The bracket 20 can be made of any desired material which is light in eweight and strongjaluminum being particularly suitable.

An upper hinge plate '36 is provided and is freely rotat-ably mounted onthe rod '30, between the lugs 26 and 27, and a lowerhinge plate 37 isprovided, also freely pivotally mounted on the rod 30. The upper hingeplate 36 is restrained against vertical movement by the lugs 26 and 27while being swinga'ble with respect to the rod 30. "The lower hingeplate 37 is freely swingable on the rod- 30 and is slidably movablevertically between the limitpositions permitted by the lugs 28 and 29.

'- The hinge'plaltes 36 and 37, as shown particularly in FIG. 6 for thehinge plate 37, are preferably provided with hearing sleeve inserts 40of lanti-frictionmaterial, such as Teflon, nylon or the like, which arenot affected by damp weather or weather changes A second main bracket 45 is provided having a verticall extending bracket pl -ate portion 46and integral upper and lower mounting arms 47 and 48 extending frorirtheplate portion 46- :a'nd' shaped as illustrated particularly iii FIGSl lto 4.

The bracket 45 1s secured to the head 11 at spaced 7 I locations on [thewall "15 by a plurality of screws 49 ex and 48'.

Patented u '13, 1963 The links 69 are ends-by pivotal connections.provided .by pivot pins 73 in anti-friction bearings74, and the links 71are-pivotally f connected at-their opposite ends by pivot pins 75 inanti- .trict'ion bearings 76. The links 69;and 71 attheir inter- Thebracket tn'ibas extending horizontally from the plate portion 46 a pairof relatively closely spaced lugs' 56 and 51, an intermediate integrallug 52 and a lower 7 j integral lug53 for the reception of a metallicsupport rod. The support rod 54- prefenably has a head 5'5 with, aknurled portion 56 for manual gripping if and when desired, and has anut 57 on the threaded lower end portion '58 thereof. The nut 57 is alsoknurled as at 59 for facility of application. 7

The bracket 45' can be made of any desired material but is preferably ofthe same material as the bracket 20. Anupper hinge plate '60 is providedand is freely rotatably mounted on the rod 54, between the lugs "50 and,'51, land a lower hinge plate 61 is provided, also freely pivotallymounted on the rod '54. The upper hinge plate i 6t) is restrainedagainst vertical movement by the lugs 50 and 51 while being'fswingableon-the rod 54. The

lower hinge plate 61 is freely swinga-ble on the rod 54 land slida'blymovable vertically between the limit positions permitted by the lugs 52and'53. f

The binge plates 36 and 37 have bifurcated connecting portions '62 and63 extending therefrom oifset with respect of the rod *30, the head 11the player is required.

The head 11 may be freely and easily movedtowards. and away from thehead in the playing of the accor-' dish, and. is supported andmaintained at-the same level by the linkage provided on the rear of theaccordion. "The linkage is restrained from contact or engagement withthe bellows in the. more or less separated condition of the V heads 10and llby the'engagernentot the hinge plate the stop post 66. I

z The freely movable pivotal mounting provided between the. links 69 and71, between the links fi and 7 1 and the t hinge plates 36,37, 60 and 61and between these hingef plates, and the rods 30 and 54provides asubstantially hic tion free-connecting and supporting'st-ructures-o'that no additional burden is placed on the player, the heads '10and" l1 being freely' movable towardsand away from each other, andswingablexvertically' but maintained in'level 7 condition. A veryrapidor quivering efiect'can thus be to a vertical plane through thelongitudinal axis of the rod 7 36 away from the rear wall 114 of thehead 10.-

The hinge plates 60 and 61 have bifurcated connecting portions 64 and 65extending therefrom and ofiset with respect to a vertical plane throughthe longitudinal axis of the tod 54 forwardly towards-the bead 11.: Theupper binge plate 6b is limited in its movement towards the bead 11 by astop post 66 carried. by the bracket I portion 46.

plate "The bifurcated connecting portions 62 and 64 have downwardlyextending meeting-links 69piyotal1y conq nected thereto byxpivot'pins 70and the bifurcated conpivotal-1y connected thereto by pivot nestingportions 63 and 65 have upwardly extending meeting links 71 pins 72.

pivotally connected at their opposite sections and intermediate theirends are connected by I pivot pins, 77 in antifriction bearings78. Theconnection of the links 69 land 71 at their ends to the rods 30 andStand intermediate their ends provides a parallel motion connectionbetween the beads 10 and 11," with the upper hinge plates 36 and 60restrained from vertical movement by their respective positioningbetween the lugs 2,6 and-27 and the lugs 50 and 51 with the lower hingeplates 37 and 61 free to slide on the rods 30 and 54 in the locationsbetween the lugs 28 and 29 and the lugs 52 and 53. The binge plates 36,37, 60 and =61 and the links-69 and 71 preferably have their edgesrounded or shaped to avoid any sharp configurations which would tend tocatch on or abrade the'clothing. The anti-friction bearings 74, 76 and78 preferably are of synthetic plastic easily obtained.

, The brackets 2b and maybe readily applied tothe beads 10 and '11without involving any serious problems of alignment or. adjustment.

This application isa continuation in p art 'of myprior' g applicationSerial No. 780,726, filed December 16,1958, 7

now abandoned.

I claim:

1. 'In combination with a portable accordion having two reed carryingheads and an interposed bellows, one of said heads; having therearthereof for engagement with "the body of the player during playingof the accordion i and the other head being movable with respect to saidone mounted on the rear of said one of said heads; saidfirst I i bracketmember having a plate portion disposed at an 40 material, such asTeflon, nylon or the like, which is not affected by dampness nor bytemperature changes.

The bracket 20 withits lugs 26, 27, 28 and 29 extends beyond the head 10and in substantially complete overlapping relation to the bellows, 12 inclosed-condition as V will be seen in FIG. 2;

- The position and'chanacter of mounting of the user so that the bellows12 is in spaced location away from-the body inuse while at the same timethe tendency of the clothing of the user to become caught or abraded by'the hingeplates 36, 37, and 61 is avoided.

I V thebrecket ,20 are such as to provide a support against the body ofhead, apparatusfor controlling the relative movement of said other head;'With respect to said one head comprising .a first vertically elongatedunitary bracket member angle to the rear of said one of saidheadsqtosp-ace the bellows from the body of 'theplayer,asecondvertically'f elongated unitary bracket member mounted oriflther'ear of said other of said heads, a vertical rod carried by each 1 r ofsaid bracket members, and a plurality-of pivotally co-n ne'cted linkshaving portions pivotally connected toqsaidl rods and portionsslidably'and pivotally connected to said rods and providing aparallelmotion connection between" said heads retaining the heads at=thesame level and per-j mitting relative movement of said heads toward andaway 7 from each other and swinging of's'aid other head about;

the vertical pivotal axis;

provided by the vertical rod of its'bracket-member: 1

2; The combination defined inc'laim 1 in whichsaid' bracket member onsaid other head has'a stop member thereonafor limitingthe movement ofsaid links at that 1 end thereof toward thebellows. 7 6

'3. In combination with aportable accordion for"sup-'- mounted onthe-rear ofsaidoneof saidi heads anda vertical bracket plate integralther-ewithand: extending therefrom at an angle with respect to the rearof said one head to maintain the bellows "in spaced rela'tionto the .Itwill be noted that upon movement of the bead 11 j toward and away fromthe head 10 in-playing the accordion land with swinging of thehelad 11as desired with respect to the bellows 12' on the axis of the rod 54 and.of the bellows 12 withrespect to the head 11 on the axis body of'theplayer, said bracket plate having a pair of upperspacedhorizontally'disposedlugs; an intermediate 7 horizontal lug and .a lowerhorizontal lug, a second verti cal elongated bracket'member having amountingplate mounted on the rear of: the other of said heads; said Ibracket plate having a of upper spaced horizontally is supported fromthe 10 by the connection provided exteriorly of the bellows'so' thatlittle, if any, support of the head '11 by the hand of disposed lugs,"an intermediate horizontal lug and a lower horizontal lug, 'a verticalrod carried by each of said bracket members in intersecting relation tosaid lugs,

upper'hinge plates rotatably mounted on said rods between said upperlugs, lower hinge plates rotatably mounted on said rods and slidablebetween said interme diate lugs and said lower lugs, and a plurality ofinterconnected links pivotally connected to said hinge plates andproviding a parallel motion connection between said hinge platesretaining said heads at the same level and permitting relative movementof said heads toward and away from each other and swinging of said otherhead about the vertical pivotal axis provided by the vertical pivotalaxis provided by the vertical rod of its bracket member.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said bracket member onsaid other head has a stop member thereon engageable by its contiguoushinge plate for limiting the movement of said hinge plate at that endtoward the bellows.

5. In combinationwith a portable accordion for support by the body ofthe user and having two reed carrying heads and an interposed bellows,one of said heads having the rear thereof for engagement with the bodyof the player during playing of the accordion andvthe other head beingmovable with respect to said one head, appa ratus for controlling therelative movement of said other head with respect to said onehead'comprising' a first vertical elongated bracket member havingmounting portions mounted on the rear of said one of'said heads and avertical bracket plate integral therewith and extending therefrom atanangle with respect to the rear of saidupperspaced horizontallydisposed lugs, an intermediate horizontal lug and a lower horizontallug, a second vertical elongated bracket member having a mounting platemounted on the rear of said other of said heads, said bracket platehaving a pair of upper spaced horizontally disposed lugs, anintermediate horizontal lug and a lower nected at their lower ends, anadditional pair of links pivotally connected to said lower hinge platesand pivotally connected at their upper ends, and additional pivotalconnections for interconnecting intermediate portions of said firstmentioned links and said additional 7 links for providing a parallelmotion connection between said hinge plates retaining said heads at thesame level and permitting relative movement of said heads toward andaway-from each other and swinging of said other 7 head about thevertical pivotal axis provided by the vertical rodof its bracket member.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS vGermany July 8, 1949

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PORTABLE ACCORDION HAVING TWO REED CARRYINGHEADS AND AN INTERPOSED BELLOWS, ONE OF SAID HEADS HAVING THE REARTHEREOF FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BODY OF THE PLAYER DURING PLAYING OF THEACCORDION AND THE OTHER HEAD BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONEHEAD, APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID OTHER HEADWITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE HEAD COMPRISING A FIRST VERTICALLY ELONGATEDUNITARY BRACKET MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF SAID ONE OF SAID HEADS;SAID FIRST BRACKET MEMBER HAVING A PLATE PORTION DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TOTHE REAR OF SAID ONE OF SAID HEADS TO SPACE THE BELLOWS FROM THE BODY OFTHE PLAYER, A SECOND VERTICALLY ELONGATED UNITARY BRACKET MEMBER MOUNTEDON THE REAR OF SAID OTHER OF SAID HEADS, A VERTICAL ROD CARRIED BY EACHOF SAID BRACKET MEMBERS, AND A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LINKSHAVING PORTIONS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID RODS AND PORTIONS SLIDABLYAND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID